NOAA Assets in the Southeast & Caribbean Region

From the Carolinas to the Florida Keys and the U.S. Caribbean, NOAA has substantial capabilities working to address priorities and needs of our stakeholders and partners in the Southeast and Caribbean Region. Several NOAA centers, offices, and laboratories serve this region, with workforce concentrations in Beaufort, NC; Asheville, NC; Charleston, SC; St. Petersburg, FL; Miami, FL; and Key West, FL. The region also boasts three National Marine Sanctuaries, one River Forecast Center, a Tsunami Warning Program and Seismic Network, Weather Forecast Offices in all southeastern states and the U.S. Caribbean, and the National Hurricane Center.

NOAA’s aircraft operations center is located in Lakeland, Florida, and two NOAA ships, the Ronald Brown and the Nancy Foster, home port in Charleston, SC. NOAA port agents, law enforcement personnel, regional navigation managers, and other field staff are distributed throughout the region.

NOAA has a broad portfolio of activities and services in the Southeast and Caribbean.  Communication and coordination across NOAA and its partners can be challenging, given the extent of locations, missions, and needs.  In order to improve, focus, and better integrate the development and delivery of NOAA’s products and services, NOAA’s Southeast and Caribbean Regional Collaboration Team (SECART) supports the NOAA in the Caribbean collaborative that strengthens communication and coordination among NOAA and partners at a sub-regional level.

SECART Partners

In addition to NOAA employees and facilities, NOAA benefits from close partnerships with these NOAA-supported entities in the region:

National Estuarine Research Reserves

• North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve
• North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve offsite link
• ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve
• Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve offsite link
• Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve offsite link
• Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Coastal Zone Management Programs

• North Carolina Coastal Management Program
• South Carolina Coastal Management Program
• Georgia Coastal Management Program offsite link
• Florida Coastal Management Program offsite link
• Puerto Rico Coastal Management Program
• US Virgin Islands Coastal Management Program

Sea Grant College Programs

• North Carolina Sea Grant offsite link
• South Carolina Sea Grant offsite link
• Georgia Sea Grant offsite link
• Florida Sea Grant offsite link
• Puerto Rico Sea Grant offsite link

Cooperative Institutes

• The Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies offsite link
• The Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research, and Technology offsite link
• The Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies offsite link

Regional Integrated Sciences & Assessments

• Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments offsite link

Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems

• Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association offsite link
• Caribbean Regional Association offsite link

Regional Fishery Management Councils

• South Atlantic Fishery Management Council offsite link
• Caribbean Fishery Management Council offsite link

Regional Climate Center

• Southeast Regional Climate Center offsite link